Tony’s legislative update (1/27/2017)

On January 26, the Minnesota House approved a compromise proposal crafted by House and Senate negotiators that addresses health care emergency aid and access.

The plan will offset the cost of premiums by 25 percent for qualifying enrollees who purchase health care coverage in the individual market this year. It will also bring some access, competition, and transparency to the system in numerous ways, such as allowing for-profit HMO’s to enter the marketplace, providing 120 day continuity of care for critical healthcare cases, modifying stop loss coverage to make it easier for more small businesses to offer affordable insurance to their employees, and instituting agricultural cooperative health plans, which allow organizations with member owners – such as farm cooperatives – to provide health insurance to their members.

Governor Dayton has signed the bill, which is fantastic news. Look for more health care reform proposals to move forward in the Minnesota House in the weeks ahead.

Wednesday represented American Bikers for Awareness, Training, and Education (ABATE) of Minnesota’s Day at the Capitol. After speaking to ABATE groups in the capitol rotunda, I was pleased to have local members of the St. Croix Valley Riders visit my office and discuss issues important to motorcyclists.

I also enjoyed visiting the IBEW Local 110 apprenticeship training center last week, and learning more about how newcomers to the electrical field are taught and prepared to enter the workforce.

About Tony Jurgens

Tony Jurgens represents District 54B in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Minnesota House District 54B includes the communities of Hastings, Afton, Denmark Township, Nininger Township, and parts of Cottage Grove.

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Tony describes himself as a pragmatic conservative who supports fiscally responsible government that lives within its means while making needed investments in education, transportation, environmental protection and services for veterans, senior citizens and the disabled.